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Photo by Bob Kane, Design Photography
By KEVIN CARMODY, THE GAZETTE
Phil Foster wasn’t about to let a small thing such as his heart get in the way of breaking his 32-year streak of running in all four events of the Pikes Peak Road Runners Winter Series.
After all, he was one of the founding members in 1979 when all races took place in Black Forest.
“I should have missed this one,” said the 77-year-old Foster who, with his wife of 56 years, Julie, took part in Saturday’s 33rd winter series opener at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. “I was in the hospital last month with my heart, but I think I’m going to live. But my doctor would probably say not to do this race.”
Photo gallery 1 ... photo gallery 2
While the Fosters finished last among the 474 runners in the shorter, 3.3-mile trail race, two overall race records were broken, both in the men’s division. Logan Wealing of Colorado Springs took top honors in the first race in 18 minutes, 21 seconds, chopping 47 seconds off the mark set by Daniel Castaneda last year. And in the men’s seven-mile run, Ryan Hafer, also from Colorado Springs, took nearly 2 minutes off the mark set by Peter Maksimow last year with a 42:11.
The women’s 5K champ had no problems with her energy level after her victory in 22:12, spending time on the park playground while most everyone else was simply out of air.
“I rebound with a lot of energy, and I’m out here to have fun,” said 13-year-old Cheyenne Mountain Middle School eighth-grader Katie Rainsberger, daughter of 1985 Boston Marathon champion Lisa Rainsberger, who also ran Saturday. “I just wanted to try my hardest and see how it would go.”
Rainsberger won the inaugural state middle school championship last fall in D’Evelyn.
CM Butler of Manitou Springs was the first female finisher in the seven-mile race, doing so in 54:01.
Results: Men's 5K ... women's 5K ... men's 7M ... women's 7M
Of course, the day wasn’t complete without a fair share of Broncos outerwear.
“I was waiting to get a jersey, but when (Tim) Tebow started playing, it was an easy choice,” said Minneapolis native Corinne Handy, clad in her pink No. 15 jersey for the 3.3-mile run. “I’ve only been here two and a half years, but I’m into the Broncos now.”
Julie Chagnon, a civilian contractor at Schreiver Air Force Base, sported Champ Bailey’s blue No. 24 jersey as she trotted to the finish in the seven-mile jaunt.
“I love screaming for the Broncos,” said Chagnon, an 11-year resident of Colorado Springs but native to St. Louis. “What they’ve done this year, it’s a miracle.”
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